There is a little evidence that this could improve pupils' progress, but what may happen, given the current problems in recruiting teachers, is that a large class with an experienced and capable teacher is split into two, with half of the pupils being taken by a less experienced and perhaps less capable teacher.

ECONOMIST: Health and education

The biggest difference, Prof Nicolson says, is that when the class is broken down into ability groups within the literacy hour each day, the teacher has to move from one to another.

BBC: News | Education | Catching up with reading

Romney must convince us that he is the wise, strong teacher who can manage a class-full of brats, bullies and clowns with a firm look and quiet word.

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Which is why Katherine Ye Zi, an English-language teacher, selected the class of Internet trailblazers from the different ethnic groups.

CNN: On-line in Yunnan